Betta St. John
Encyclopedia
Betta St. John is an American
actress, singer and dancer.
Born as Betty Jean Striegler, St. John made her film debut at the age of ten in Destry Rides Again
(1939) and as an orphan in Jane Eyre (1943). She was discovered by Rodgers and Hammerstein
and played a small role in the Broadway
musical, Carousel
in 1945. By 1949, she created the role of Liat in the musical South Pacific
and followed the production to London
. On film, she appeared in The Robe
(1953), Dream Wife
(1953), All the Brothers Were Valiant
(1953), The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954), and The Student Prince
(1954). St. John appeared in two Tarzan films and ended her career as the heroine of Horror Hotel (1960). She continued to act in films and television until 1965 when she retired.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress, singer and dancer.
Born as Betty Jean Striegler, St. John made her film debut at the age of ten in Destry Rides Again
Destry Rides Again
Destry Rides Again is a western starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. The supporting cast includes Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Allen Jenkins, Irene Hervey, Billy Gilbert, Bill Cody, Jr., and Una Merkel. The original Max Brand novel was translated into an "oater" with the...
(1939) and as an orphan in Jane Eyre (1943). She was discovered by Rodgers and Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were a well-known American songwriting duo, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s during what is considered the golden age of the medium...
and played a small role in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical, Carousel
Carousel (musical)
Carousel is the second stage musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II . The work premiered in 1945 and was adapted from Ferenc Molnár's 1909 play Liliom, transplanting its Budapest setting to the Maine coastline...
in 1945. By 1949, she created the role of Liat in the musical South Pacific
South Pacific (musical)
South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The story draws from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 book Tales of the South Pacific, weaving together characters and elements from several of its...
and followed the production to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. On film, she appeared in The Robe
The Robe (film)
The Robe is a 1953 American Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that crucifies Jesus. The film was made by 20th Century Fox and is notable for being the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope.It was directed by Henry Koster...
(1953), Dream Wife
Dream Wife
Dream Wife is a 1953 romantic comedy film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.It was directed by Sidney Sheldon and produced by Dore Schary, from a screenplay by Herbert Baker, Alfred Lewis Levitt and Sidney Sheldon. The music score was by Conrad Salinger, the...
(1953), All the Brothers Were Valiant
All the Brothers Were Valiant
All the Brothers Were Valiant is a 1953 adventure drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , based on the 1919 novel All the Brothers Were Valiant by Ben Ames Williams...
(1953), The Law vs. Billy the Kid (1954), and The Student Prince
The Student Prince (film)
The Student Prince is a 1954 CinemaScope color film musical featuring, as the credits read, "the singing voice of Mario Lanza". Lanza had become embroiled in a bitter dispute with MGM during production and the studio dismissed him. Under the terms of the settlement with Lanza, MGM retained the...
(1954). St. John appeared in two Tarzan films and ended her career as the heroine of Horror Hotel (1960). She continued to act in films and television until 1965 when she retired.